Picture hook or hanger



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' W. M. BRINKERHOFP.

PICTURE HOOK OR HANGER.

Patented Oct. 18

wpnh'a m han Washington, D. c

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Patented Oct. 18"

(No Mbdl.)

- W. M. BRINKERHOPIP;

PICTURE HOOK 0R HANGER.

the invention,

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN M. BRINKERHOFF, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

PICTURE HOOK on HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi Letters Patent No. 371,665. dated October 18, 1887.

Application filed August 12, 1887.

To all; whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WARREN M. BRINKER- HOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing atAuburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture Hooks. or Hangers; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and'exact description of such as will enable others-skilled in the art to which itapp'ertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention is an improvement in picturehangers, and has for its object to provide a hanger which can be made to adapt itself to irregularities in the walls, to the irregularities of the supporting cornice or molding, also to permit ofthe hanging of ,a picture beneath the point at which two parts of the. molding or' cornice join,whether at some point on theside walls or at the corners of the room, or at re entrant angles within the room. It also has for its object the production of a hanger which may be attached to the walls by nails or screws at points where asolid bearing cannot be found for a single nail or screw at a central point above the picture.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown several forms in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and such invention is fully disclosed in the accompanying specification and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a form of my improved hanger with books for holding the cord in an inwardly-deflected position to prevent the moving of the cord on its support and to retain the picture in position upon the walls. Fig. 2 shows'a similar form of hanger with an additional picture-support on the connecting bar. Fig. 3 is a view of -a hanger without the locking or retaining hooks. Fig. 4 is a view of a hanger designed to be supported by nails or screws. Fig. 5 is a view of a hanger similar to that shown in Fig. 1 with the end plat -eapable of adjustment toward or from eaclijbther. Fig. 6 is a view of a modified form of adjustable hanger with 'a central picture'support added thereto. Figs. 7'

and 8 are views of a hanger having the connection between the end plates of flexible Serial No. 246,792. (No model.)

metal, said connection being corrngatedto give a greater degree of rigidity. Fig. 9 is a view of a hanger having a hinged or jointed; connection between the two end plates. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 show hangers with other of adjustable connections plates.

Persons familiar with hanging picturesknow thatmost walls are more or less irregular, which irregularities interferewith the proper hang ing of pictures thereon. They are also aware that it is not infrequently desired 'to hang pic,- tures at points where the cornice is joined. In using nails or screws it is also a frequent occurrence that a solid support for the nail cannot be obtained at the exact-point at which 65 r it is desired to hang the picture and that the nail has to be driven at one side or the other. of the desired point. I overcome these difiiculties by my invention, and also provide a hanger which can be used heavy pictures where an extended bearing upon the cornice is desired, although Ido not claim, broadly, to be the first inventor of de vices for accomplishing this result.

The general form of the hanger is much the same in the various figures; and such hanger consists of two plates or arms, A A, provided with cord-supporting books or projections connected by a bar or rod, B. These plates or arms may be provided with cornicehooks a, as shown in nearly all of the figures, or may be provided with apertures a, to engage nails or screws or other supporting means, as shown in Fig.- 4. The cord-supporting books or projections a maybe of any other preferred construction, made integral with the plates A thereto.

The bar B is preferably made or elasticpr flexible material, so as to yield readily-tothe irregularities of the wall or cornice. .Thisdegree of elasticity or flexibility in some cases may be snflicient to enable the hanger to be employed in corners of the room or upon reand may be or attached entrant angles of the wall within the room. 5

In order that quite thin material may be used to form this connection and yet possess a sufficient degree of rigidity, such bar may be forms between the end 5 for the support of 7'0 the form shown, or of 8 stiflened at the points desired by corrugating the same or by providing itwith elevated portions or depressions in a well known way. Two formsof accomplishing this result are shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In the latter the corrugations extend inward from the outer ends, leaving a blank space in the center to afford greater facility for inward or outward deflection when desired.

In Fig. 5 the bar B is shown as extensible, being formed in two parts, I) and b, overlapping each other, one of the parts being also.

provided with one or more hooks, b, on one side, forming a guide, which receives the end of the other part, and in which such other part moves to effect the adjustment of the plates A the proper distance apart.

In Fig. 6 the bar B is formed in two parts, which engage similar guides on the back of a plate, B, and the adjustment is secured in a similar manner. This plate B may also be provided with cordsnpporting hooks or projections a a", from which another picture may be suspended.

In Fig. 10 I have shown the connection B as composed of two bars or rods. 0 c, which cro'ss each otherintermediatc of such plates. These rods or bars are held by frictional contact in clips or hearings on the plates A, whereby a certain amount of adjustment may be secured. In this case the plate B is located at the point of the intersection or crossing of the rods or bars 0 c.

In Fig. 11 the bar B is a single rod or tube connected with plates A in a similar manner, and the adjustment of the plates thereon is secured by moving them along such rod or tube.

In'Fig. 12 the bar B is composed of one or more tubes, b, and one or more rods or tubes, b, of less diameter than the tube or tubes b, and which telescope within the same.

In Fig. 9 the bar B is formed of two parts, b b, hinged together at d.

In addition to the cord-supporting hooks, each hanger may be provided with hooks or projections e e, for holding the cord in an inwardly-deflected position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5. These hooks or projections may be made from and form part of the bar B or the plates A, or may be attached to cit-her of these parts.

The plate B may be made of ornamental form, and may also be provided with cord retaining or locking hooks or projections e e, as shown .in Fig. 2. This plate may be employed with each of the different forms of hanger shown, or it may be dispensed with and the hangers used without it.

The cord locking or retaining books a e on the hangers perform an additional function in a double hanger of this character, as by means of the same a considerable amount of outward strain is given to the lower end of the hanger,

and the cord, being locked or prevented from slipping on the cord-support, does away w th the tendency to draw the arms of the hanger together, and almost entirely relieves the connection between the arms from strain. Thus I am enabled to employ a connecting construc- 0 tion of light and flexible material,much lighter than could be used without them.

I do not desire to be limited to the exact constructions shown, as modifications of each may be made without departing from the principle 7 5 of my invention.

WhatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters I Patent, is-

1. A picture-hanger consisting of two vertically disposed arms, each provided with means for engaging a support for the same, the said arms supporting the entire weight of the hanger,a connect-ion between the said arms, and two independent cord-supporting projections below the supporting means, held from 3 contact with each other by the connection between the arms, substantially as described.

2. A picture-hangcr consisting of two arms, each provided with means for engagingasupport for the same, a connection between the 0 said arms holding the same apart, but permitting the independent adjustment of said arms, and a cord-support attached to said hanger, substantially as described.

3. A picture-hanger consisting of two arms, each provided with means for engaging a support for the same, and a bar of flexible material connecting said parts and provided with elevations and depressions to increase the rigidity of the bar, and a cord-support attached to saidhanger, substantially as described.

4. A picture-hanger consisting of two arms, each provided with means for engaging a support for the same, and a bar connecting the said arms, and an adjustable. connection be- :05 tween said arms holding them from contact with each other, and a cordsupport, substantially as described.

5. A picture-hanger consisting of two-vertically disposed arms, each provided with no means for engaging a support for the same, a bar connecting said arms and holding them out of contact with each other, and two cordsnpports for two separate cords, substantially as described.

6. A picture-hanger consisting of two vertically disposed arms, each provided with means for engaging a support for the same, a connection between the said arms holding them out of contact with each other, a cord-support, I20 and looking or retaining projections below the cordsupport for holding the cord in an inwardly-deflected position, substantially as described. Y

7. A picture-hanger consisting of two vertically disposed arms, each provided with means for engaging a support for the same, a bar connecting said arms, a cord-support, and a plate attached to said bar and provided with an additional cord-support, substantially as described.

8. A picture-hanger consisting of two vertically disposed arms, each provided with In testimony whereof I aflixmysignature in means for engaging a support for the same, a presence of two wltnesses.

connection between said'arms, two cord-supports connected'with the hanger, and-a lock- WARREN M. ,BRINKERHOFF. ingprojection or projections below the cord-',

supports within vertical lines from the outer Witnesses:

edges of such supports, substantially as de- E. '1. WALKER,

scribed. J ULIUs SoLGER. 

